Automatic clutch-release



A. H. FLUGEKVAIV.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH RELEASE. APPLICATION man JAMA?, 1920.

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A. R. FLUGEKVAM. AUTOMATIC CLUTCH RELEASE,

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I7, 1920.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT. orf-fica.

Llaman FLUGExvm, or FAIBDALE, N on'rn DAKOTA.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH-RELEASE.

To whom it may con-cem.'

Be it known that l, ALMER R. FLUGEKVAM, a citizen 'of the United States,residin at Fairdale, in the county of Walsh and tate` of North Dakota,have invented certainuew and useful Improvements in Automatic'Clutch-Releases, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

automatic clutch releasing device for Fordson tractors, and an object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this kind, which is simple inconstruction, tical in use, and one which can be manufacture'd for arelatively low costaud sold at a reasonable profit.

Another object of theinvention is to pro-` the device is actuatedvautomatically to release the clutch of the tractor, and thus avoidinjury to either the plow or the tractor or stalling the motor, and alsoprevent the tractor from tilting rearwardly.

` A- further object of the invention is. to provide an automaticreleasing device com- 'prising spring actuated means for releasing theclutch pedal,` a spring actuated detent are overcome, by' the plow forthe spring actuated clutch releasing means, and means of connectionbetween the detent and that 4which 'is drawn by the tractor, to operatethe deten't, when the ten-A sioning elementsxof the connecting -means isdrawn by the tractor, comes in contact with an obstruction in its path,whereby the clutch=pedal may be released.' and thus avoid injury toeither the plow or the tractor. While the design and construction atpresyent illustrated and setforth is deemed preferable, it is obviousthat as a result duction of the invention to a more practical form forcommercial purposes, the invention may Abe'susceptible to changes, Tandthe right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehendedwithin the scope of what is claimed.. A l

The inventioncomprises further featuresand combination of parts, as willhereine after set' forth, shown in the 'drawings and claimed.

This invention relates to an improved efficient and pracy or that whichof a ref.

. bar.

specification of man Patent. Patented Mar, 22, 1921, Application ledJanuary 17, 1920. Serial No. 352,146. i

ing the clutch pedal,4 and illustrating a por.

tion of the gang plow in the rear of the tractor and showing the clutchreleasing device as applied tothe draw bar and connectingv between theclutch pedal and the gang plow,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig.' 1,`showing the parts in 'sectional planand on an enlarged scale.

' Fig 4 is a sectional view Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view-on liner 5L-5 of Fig..3, l

on line of Fig. 6 is a sectional view on lin'e 6-7-6of 3, ig. 7 is asectional view on line 7-7 4of Fig. 5.

Referring more especially tothe drawings, 1 designates a conventionalform of AFordson tractor, the rear end of which is provided with a drawbar 2, to which a plow or any other' device is adapted to be ordinarily.connected so 'as to be drawn by the A.

tractor.

The automatic releasing device includes ai frame 3,

shown.' The arm 4 of this frame is prowhich,'in plan view, is of theshape vided with a bifurcation 5, and the forks 6 caused to be formedbythe" bifurcation straddle the draw. bar 2. These forks 6 are providedwith a plurality of openings 7, which, when the forks 6 straddle thedraw bar, register with the openings 8 in the draw bar, in order toreceive a suitable holding bolt 9.

A clevis casting is bifurcated as shown at 10. The forks 12 of this`.clevis casting, caused to be of the frame 3 and said holding bolt orp1ii 9 is passed through the openings 13 of thel forks 12, in order toattach or connect the clevis casting to 'the frame 3 and the draw Therear end of the clevis casting is provided with lateral flanges or ears14,

4which are providedwith. guide openings 15,

of the clevis proper are guided.' The arms 10 is provided, and whichformed l bythe bifurcation 11 straddle the fork's 6 guided. Projecting t45 s The guide openings 40 and the releasing gthze nose 52 of the detentor holding membery 16 have secured thereto by means of pins 21, rings20, between which and the flanges or ears coil springs 22 areinterposed. These coil springs are in surrounding relation to eye 43.This cross head plate also carries and 4 of the forward and rearends ofthe.

the arms 16, and are heavy and of sufiicient tension to readilywithstand the usual load to be drawn by the tractor, for instance, aload such as a vang plow or the like. The clevis proper 17 has arearwardly extending leg 23 provided with an opening 24. to Whichl anysuitable gang plow or the llike may be connected, in order to be drawnby the tractor.

The frame 3 has its rear transverse arm 4 provided with guide openings25, in which a detent or holding member 26 is mounted. The guides 25 andthe detent are correspondingly rectangular in cross section, and one endof the detent 26 has a reduced apertured ear 27, which projects throughan opening 28 in a plate 29. This plate 29 acts as a cross head or crossbar. Guide pins 30 are connected to the plate or cross bar or head 29 bymeans of the reduced threaded extensions 31 engaging in the threadedopenings 32 of said plate.A These guide pins 30 are preferablycylindrical, though not necessarily, and-arranged in surroundingrelation to the pins are coil springs 33. 'The parts having the guideopening 25 of the transverse arm 4 of the frame 3 are provided withupwardly and downwardly extending ears 34 provided with guide openings35, which receive the pins 30. Secured upon the guide pins by theholding pins 36 are collars or flanges 37. The coil springs 33 areinterposed between the collars or flanges 37 and certain of the ears 34act to hold the detent 36 normally in the position shown in thesectional plan view 'of Fig. 2.

The frame 3 has a forwardly extending arm 39, the forward and rear endsof which are provided with .guide openings 40 in which the releasing'plunger 41 is guided.

plunger 41 are correspondingly rectangular in cross section, to insureguiding the plunger and to insure'against rotation of the same. Theforward end of the plunger is carried in any suitable manner by thecross head plate 42, which is provided with an the cylindricalguidevrods 44, which are mounted in the guide openings 45 of the'upwardland downwardly extending ears 46 I t arm 39 of .the frame 3. The guiderods 44 have 'secured theretoby means of the pins posedl betweenthecollars or anges 49 and 48," suitable lcollars or flanges 49. Inter-1 the lateral ears 46 are coil springs 50. vThe yreleasing plunger 41has a notch 51 correl'spondingin shape to and adapted 'to receive 26 soas to hold the plunger 41 in its normal position as shown in thesectional plan view of F ig. 2.

A pulley supporting bracket 53 having a washer-like end 54 is fitted ona bolt 55 of the side of the tractor, and carried by the bracket 53 is apulley 56. A suitable chain, cable or the like 57 passes over thispulley, and has one end attached to the eye 43 of the cross head plate42, and its othercnd is connected to the usual or conventional form ofclutch pedal 58. This chain or other connection is of a length to fitexactly between the eye 43 and the clutch pedal, when in gear, and whenthe plunger 41' is in its iorward normal position greatly under thetension of the springs 50, and particularly when the nose 52 of thedetent 26 is in engagement with the notch 51, so as to hold the parts insuch operative positions. Carried in any suitable manner, preferably bya small clevis 59, though not necessarily, on-

one of the bolts 9 may attach the clevis,

casting in place. In other words. the clevis casting may be adjustedlaterally, and in such an instance any one of the bolts 9 may be usedfor connecting the clevis casting in place. vWhen this casting isadjusted in this manner, it is necessary to lengthen or shorten thechain 61, so that it will be taut at all times between its points of'connection with the detent and an eye 62. The bracket which holds thepulley 56 is designed to be attached to two of the bolts 55, and ispositioned so as to dispose the pulley on a direct line with the actionof the plunger 41, thereby facilitating the resetting of the device, bypulling up on the clutch pedal.

As previously stated, the springs 22 are designed to be very heavy, andof considerable tension, greater than the load to be drawn by the rearleg of the clevis 17, so that as long as the load, such as a plow doesnot meet with any obstructions in its path, the detent 26 will remain inengagement-with the notch 51 and hold the plunger '41 in its propernormal position. However, when the plow or other apparatus meets withantent is disengaged fromits notch 51 after tor and the plow.V This mayally be accmplished without the operator leavin the seat of the tractor.By means of this evice the need of wooden brake pins is unneces-l saryin the beam of a plow. Also the risky practice of operating the tractorand the low with an iron bolt in place of a wooden break pin,'isavoided. Also the tractor is prevented from tipping Aover backward on asudden lpull. Furthermore, the chain 61 may be varied in length, so thatthe amount of strain retuired to operate the device will be varied. nother words, by having this chain sufliciently long so that it will be alittle slack when the device is set will necessitate considerable of aull onthe clevis to operate .the device. In urther words, there Aaresome obstructions, such as rocks, or

stumps or hardened soil that it would lbe unnecessaryrto stop thetractor and while these smaller obstructions wouldoperate the device,should the chain 6l be taut, the operator may slacken the chain so thatthe plow will Vpass over such obstructions and the tractor will not bestopped. However, the chain 61 may be lengthened or shortened, ork madetaut or slack, to suit the operator. The plunger .41, as well as thedetent are easily removable, and furthermore, the nose 52 of the detentand the notch 51 of the plunger are to be made of any suitable material,

preferably'case hardened steel, so as to withstand the greatest amountof wear. Inv or,- der to-reset the device, it is only necessary to'placethe tractor in a neutral positionand pull up the tractor clutch pedal.This will bring the plunger back to its normalposition under the tensionof the springs as previously stated, and when this occurs the detentw1ll 'slip into engagement with the notch 51,'

his invention having been setv forth, what 'is claimed as new and usefuliszt ce.

1. The combination with a tractor havinga clutch operating mechanismincluding a' clutch pedal, of' a farmingfmacliine attaching deviceprovided with adjustable connec-l tions to the draw bar of the tractor,said adjustable connections including yieldableV means adapted to resistthe ordinary pull of a farming machine, a spring tensioned memberlvhavin positive operative connections with the c utch pedal and providedwith a notch, a spring tensloned detent dog having an operatlveconnection with a member of the yieldable means of the adjustableconnectlon w1th4 the draw bar and adapted to I 4justably connected tothe draw bar of the tractor, a spring tensioned member slidable inbearings of said frame and being positivelyJ connected with the clutchedal, said mem er having a notch, a yieldaijble couple to be carried by4a farming machine and provided with adjustable connections with theframe andthe draw bar .and adapted to resist the ordinary pull of thefarming machine, a detent dog slidable in bearings of .the frame andhaving its nose engaging the notch of said member to hold it set againstthe action of its sprmg means when the clutch is in gear, and positivemeans operatively connectin the detent dog and a mem- -ber of the yielable couple, whereby upon an excessive pull imparted on the couple,

the detent dog will disengage the notch and allow the springtensionedmemberto actuate said mechanism to release the clutch.

3. The combination with ai tractor having a clutch operating mechanismincluding a clutch pedal, of a right angle frame havingJl one armthereof adjustably connected to the draw barof the tractor, a springtensioned member slidable in bearings of the other arm of the frame,positive means connecting said member and the clutch pedal, a yieldablecouple to' be'carried by a' farming machine' and being adjustablyconnected tothe first arm ofthe frame' and the drawbar'. whereby thefarming machine may be adjusted laterally relatively to the tractor, aspring tensioned detent dog slidable in bearings ofthe 'ne'ctinv thedetent dog and a member of the yielda le couple whereby upon-,anexcessive pull impartedon the couple the detent dog j i will disengagesaid member and` allow it toactuate under the 'action of its'springmeans to oplerate said mechanism to release the ehm, p'

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature. p FLUGEKVAM.

